CHAMPCAR/CART: San Jose: Team Australia Saturday report

TEAM AUSTRALIA STRUGGLES IN QUALIFYING
Team Australia struggled on the challenging streets of San
Jose during qualifying for the eighth round of the Champ Car
World Series today.
Alex Tagliani was 16th in his Aussie Vineyards/Team ...

TEAM AUSTRALIA STRUGGLES IN QUALIFYING

Team Australia struggled on the challenging streets of San
Jose during qualifying for the eighth round of the Champ Car
World Series today.

Alex Tagliani was 16th in his Aussie Vineyards/Team Australia
Lola after having both his practice and qualifying sessions
cut short because of rear suspension failures.

Marcus Marshall was 18th after battling under steer in his
Aussie Vineyards/Team Australia Lola.

Today's session was run on a modified track to yesterday
with a new chicane down the main straightaway, the widening
of turns one and two and an adjustment of the fence at turn
four in an effort to reduce speeds and increase safety.

Defending series champion Sebastian Bourdais took the pole
from Newman-Haas teammate Oriol Servia and Canadian Paul
Tracy.

Tomorrow's race will be a timed event over one hour and 45
minutes.

ALEX TAGLIANI - #15 AUSSIE VINEYARDS TEAM AUSTRALIA LOLA

"The result today is disappointing," said Tagliani.

"We are going to start at the back and it's going to be a
long day, but anything is possible.

"We will just need to be patient during the race and
hopefully push our way forward.

"The new chicane that has been put in today is better for
safety, but not necessarily for reliability.

"They are talking about making more changes overnight, so we
will see what they will do. Street tracks like this are
always a work in progress, especially at an inaugural race.

"There was another great crowd today and that can only be
good for the series, especially coming off the success of
Edmonton two weeks ago."

MARCUS MARSHALL - #5 AUSSIE VINEYARDS TEAM AUSTRALIA LOLA

"It has been a tough day for the entire Team Australia
operation," said Marshall.

"I guess when you are running a new chassis like the Lola
for the first time there is going to be a race track where we
really struggle and this seems to be it.

"Everyone is working as hard as they can.

"At the end of the day you want to be as fast as you can in
qualifying, but I don't think starting from where we are
will be a massively bad thing.

"This circuit is going to be tough on cars and drivers and
we just need to pick our way through any drama that may
occur."

DERRICK WALKER -- CO-OWNER TEAM AUSTRALIA

"Obviously that was not quite the result we were after,"
said Walker.

"Alex has a problem with the rear suspension of his car
which cut him short in both sessions today.

"It would seem that we are the only ones with the problem
and we have a pretty good idea what is causing the drama.

"I guess this is part of the steep learning curve we are on
with the Lola chassis this season."

CRAIG GORE -- CO-OWNER TEAM AUSTRALIA

"I don't think starting where we are will be such a bad
thing tomorrow," said Gore.

"I am sure there will be a bit of action early in the race
and it might be good to let it all unfold a few cars in front
of us and then drive our way through.

"We have a few things to fix overnight and then the warm-up
session to ensure they work.

"It is going to be hot tomorrow and the fitness levels of
our drivers will be an asset."